Attachment for internal-combustion engines



Oct. 14, 1930. 5 BOYCE 1,778,241

ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 18, 1927 PatentedOct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES ERSKINE EBENEZER BOYCE, OF CORONADO,CALIFORNIA ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Application filedMay 18, 1927. Serial No. 192,324.

This invention is an improvement in attachments for internal combustionengines, and more particularly in lubricators for the engines of motorvehicles.

Lubricating systems for internal combustion engines are usually arrangedto be operated by the motor or engine, the system usually including apump operated by a moving part of the engine, and there is nolubrication until the engine is working.

hen the engine is idle, the film of oil between the piston and thecylinder drains or dries away, and in starting there is a greatliability to cutting and scoring of the cylinder wall before the film ofoil is again in place.

Mechanically operated lubricating devices have been suggested, designedto insert oil into the cylinder prior to starting, but such devices aredependent upon the driver as to whether or not they will be operatedprior to the starting, and are hence liable to be forgotten when mostneeded. a

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision ofmechanism for introducing lubricant between the cylinder and the pistonat the moment of starting, and controlled to operate by the actuation ofthe starting mechanism of the engine.

Another object is the provision of a simple inexpensive mechanism, notdependent upon the volition of the driver for its operation.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claimsappended hereto, it being understood that vari: ous changes in the form.proportion. size and minor details of construction within the scope ofthe claims. may be resorted to without departiii gfrom the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings v Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the improvedlubricator in place on the foot board of a motor vehicle, and with apart of the engine or motor in section.

' Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of an alternate form of pump.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 is shown inconnection with one of the cylinders 1 of an engine 2 of usualconstruction, the cylinder having the piston 3 movable therein. in thepresent instance a chamber 4 of cylindrical form, in which is movable apiston 5, the stem 6 of which is encircled by a spring 7 acting normallyto move the piston to the position shown.

A pipe 8 leading from the chamber has branches 9 extending on oppositesides of the cylinder. From each branch a plurality of connections 10leads to each cylinder, two connections being provided from each branchin the present instance. That is, each cylinder has tour connectionswith the pump chamber, and they open into the cylinder in spacedrelation at intervals of approximately 90. The connections open justbelow the rings of the piston when it is in its lowermost position, asclearly shown in Fig. 1.

Each branch 10 has a spring controlled check indicated at 11, and asimilar check 12 is arranged between the chamber 4 and the pipe 8.Preferably the chamber is supplied from a tank or reservoir 13, by meansof a pipe 14, and the reservoir is supplied in any suitable manner bymeans of pipes 15. A spring controlled check 16 is arranged between thereservoir and the chamber.

\Vith this arrangement whenever the piston or plunger 5 is depressedagainst the resistance of the spring 6 lubricant will he forced throughthe pipes 8, 9 and 10 into the cylinders, and into position between thecylinder walls and the pistons. In order to insure that lubricant willbe supplied prior to the starting of the engine. the operating mechanismfor the plunger 5 is arranged in such position that before the starterof the engine can be operated, the plunger 5 must be operated to injectoil into the cylinders.

With this object in view, the chamber 4, as also the reservoir 13, arearranged on the dashboard 17 of the vehicle. A lever 18 is pivoted at 19to the dashboard, and one end of the lever overlies the end of the stem6, the

The lubricator comprises said end being provided with a head 20 forengagement by the lever. The opposite end of the lever extends throughan opening in the dashboard to a position just above the starter button21 of the engine, which is mounted on the foot plate 22 in the usualmanner. It will be obvious from the description that the button cannotbe operated to start the engine until the adjacent end of the lever 18is depressed into contact there-' with, the end of the lever 18 accessto the button.

In operation, whenever the starter is operated to start the engine, thelever 18 first must be operated to depress the plunger 5. The chamber 4and the pipes\8, 9 and 10 are full of lubricant, and the depression ofthe plunger forces a part of the oil through the pipes 10 into thecylinders, between the walls thereof and the pistons. The first strokeof the pistons will spread the films of oil, and there will be noscratching or cutting of the wall due to a lack of lubrication. Neitheris the device dependent upon the driver, the starting of the engine inthe usual manner-being impossible without first operating thelubricating pump.

In Fig. 3, an alternate form of pump is shown. In this arrangement'thepump comprises a casing 23, one Wall 24 of which is a resilientdiaphragm. Pipes 25 and 26 lead from the reservoir tothe casing, andfrom the casing to the lubricating system respectively, being arrangedin the same manner as the pipes 14 and 8 of Fig. 1, and each pipe 25 and26 has the spring controlled check 27. The flexible diaphragm isoperated by means of an elbow lever 28. This lever is pivoted at 29,

preventing direct .and one arm thereof, not shown, overlies thestarter-button in the same manner as one end of the lever 18 overliesthe said button. The operation, so far as concerns lubrication, isprecisely the same.

Each form of pump includes a casing or chamber normally resilientlyexpanded, with means, the lever, to compress the chamber when moved inactuating. the starting device to expel lubricant from the chamber.

What is claimed as new is 1. In combination with an internal combustionengine having a starting device, and means for actuating the device,mechanism for injecting lubricant into the cylinders of the engine,movable means for operating said injecting mechanism arranged above thestarting device actuating means and in position to prevent directoperation thereof without prior operation of'the movable means tooperate the injecting mechanism.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a startingdevice, and means for actuating the device, mechanism for injectinglubricant into the cylinders of the engine at a selected point in each,a lever for operating said injecting mechanism, said of May, A. D. 1927.

lever having a portion screening the actuatventing operation thereofWithout prior op.- eration of the lever to operate the injectingmechanism.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a startingdevice, and means for actuating the device, mechanism for injectinglubricant into the cylinders of the engine at a selected point in each,a lever for operating said injecting mechanism, said lever having aportion screening the actuating means for the starting device andpreventing operation thereof Without prior operation of the lever tooperate the injecting mechanism, the injecting mechanism including apipe having branches extending on opposite sides of the cylinders, aplurality of connections between the branches and the cylinders, saidconnections opening at the same level, and means operated by the leverto increase the pressure in the pipe and branches.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a startingdevice, and means for actuating the device, mechanism for injectinglubricant into the cylinders of the engine at a selected point in each,a lever for operating said injecting mechanism, said lever having aportion screening the actuating means for the starting device andpreventing operation thereof without prior operation of the lever tooperate the injecting mechanism, the injecting mechanism including apump for lubricant having a plurality of connections with each cylinder,and a reservoir for lubricant communicating with the pump.

5. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a startingdevice, and means for actuating the device, mechanism for injectinglubricant into the cylinders of the engine at a selected point'in each,a lever for operating said injecting mechanism, said lever; having aportion screening the actuating means for the starting device andpreventing operation thereof without prior operation of the lever tooperate the'injecting mechanism, the injecting mechanism including acompressible chamber having a plurality of connections with eachcylinder, said chamber normally resiliently held in expandedconditionfand compressed by the lever when moved in actuating thestarting device to expel lubricant from the casing.

Signed at Coronado in the county of San Diego and State of Californiathis 12th day ERSKINE EBENEZER BOYCE.

mg means for the starting device and pre-

